European Union centrist pulled off an upset in Romania’s presidential election, beating out a hard-right nationalist who had channeled people’s anger at the political establishment to surge in the polls.

Ultranationalist George Simion was the favorite in Romania’s runoff, but concerns over the country’s future sparked record turnout. Pro-EU Nicușor Dan’s win brings relief to Brussels and Kyiv.

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Nicusor Dan, the former civic activist and pro-European Union centrist politician who defied the odds to decisively defeat a hard-right nationalist in Romania’s critical presidential race, has emerged as a counterforce to the right-wing populist wave sweeping across Europe.